About Us

3rd i was formed in 2005 by Colm Ryan and Geraldine Lavin to help client develop and grow their businesses through providing them with strategic insight and implementation tools. The company aim is to bring a "3rd i" to the IT and business needs of growing SMEs in tandem with developing innovative solutions for our clients.

3rd i has helped a wide range of clients, in particular individual Skillnets, SMEs, Business Support Organisations, NGOs and government agencies. As well as providing consultancy and training services, 3rd i also develop web based software solutions in-house, including Actravia, an Events and Training Management System, and AIMS, an Awards, Certification and Accreditation Management System.

Colm Ryan, Technical Director

Colm has over 20 years working as a Software Developer and Consultant. He has a broad experience and knowledge of technology and the benefits of implementing technical solutions. Colm’s core competency is in translating business requirements into software solutions and in managing the development and implementation of these solutions. He has delivered strategic and innovative solutions on many high profile national and international projects in the commercial, government and non-for-profit sectors. Clients Colm has worked with include the Bank of England, Dell, DHL, Dresdner Bank, AIB, Sony, and British Telecom amongst others.

Colm has conceived several innovative software solutions and led the development of these solutions including one system that was a runner-up in the National Innovation Awards. Colm graduated from Trinity College with a Bachelors Degree in Information Systems and is currently studied for a Postgraduate Diploma in Product Management with the Dublin Institute of Technology.

Geraldine Lavin, Business Director

Geraldine has over 15 years experience as a business consultant, trainer and lecturer. The main focus of Geraldine’s work to date has been with business support and policy organisations including County Enterprise Boards, FÁS, a number of Skillnets and Forfás, and SMEs at the growth stage of their development. She has also lectured in a number of third level institutions, including UCD, DCU, DIT, NUI, Maynooth, the Dublin Business School, CIRD (Haikou, China), APMI (Hong Kong and Singapore) and CESUGA (Spain).

Geraldine was co-opted as a member of the Small Firms Association’s National Executive Council in March 2009. She is also a member of the Ballymun Economic Development Working Group and a former President of the Institute of Business Analysis and Consulting. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Masters in Business Studies from UCD, as well as a postgraduate Certificate in Training and Continuing Education from NUI, Maynooth.

Registered Consulting Practices are controlled by Certified Management Consultants. Certification is an international qualification based on strict requirements relating to competence, ethics and independence, and is supervised by the International Council of Management Consulting Institutes.